Three weeks ago at the Delphy Improvement Centre in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, a new test was started with blackberries under LED lighting with the aim of harvesting from December. The plants, which had been stored for a long time, were planted on 11 September, and are growing well.
Lasts season, the first tests with blackberry production under LED lighting were conducted. Plants were then planted in November, and could be harvested form March. This shows the production of blackberries can be guided with LED lighting and a minimum of outdoor light.
The aim is now to realise an earlier winter production, for which the effect of interlighting and light intensity combined with length of day are the most important research pillars. The aim is to develop a future-oriented, energy-efficient, new production concept for the winter production of blackberries.
This new project is realised thanks to the growers involved, Kas als Energiebron, the Dutch ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and Signify.
For more information:
Delphy
www.delphy.nl